BLACK SEA STORM BATTERS ROYAL SHIP

Northern Advocate, 7 January 1938, Page 5

BLACK SEA STORM BATTERS ROYAL SHIP

[British Official Wireless.]" (Received 10 a.m.) RUGBY, January 6. A despatch from Bucharest says the torpedo boat Regina Maria, in which Crown Prince Michael, of Rumania, v/as going to Athens from Constanza to attend the wedding of the Crown Prince Paul of Greece, w'as driven back by terrific storms which have been raging in the Black Sea for three days. Several Bulgarian destroyers, says a message from Sofia, have steam up ready to go to the assistance of the Regina Maria if required. The Bucharest correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says the Regina Maria encountered terrific seas almost immediately after leaving Constanza, great waves bursting on her decks and washing away some of her boats. Water In Engine Room. Water finally penetrated to the engine room and partially put the engines out of action, besides breaking the wireless mast, which was not repaired for several hours. The captain headed back for Constanza under King Carol's orders, but could make no headway in the open sea, owing to the weakened engine power. He was finally obliged to seek shelter in a small creek off Capue Caliacra, where he sent out urgent S.O.S. messages.

The British salvage vessel King Lear, immediately put out from Constanza and now has the crippled torpedo boat in tow, but they are not expected to reach Constanza before 4 a.m. tomorrow. » Prince Sea-sick. Both the King Lear and the Regina Maria are in constant wireless touch with the training ship Constanza, lying in Constanza Harbour, which is transmitting their messages direct to King Carol’s Palace. A special train is waiting at Constanza to take Prince Michaely back to Bucharest and thence overland to Athens. Apart from violent sea-sick-ness, the Prince’s condition gives no cause for anxiety. Arrived Under Own Steam. The Prince, on arrival at Bucharest, looked pale and tired. The Regina Maria reached Constanza under her own steam. The wind had abated. The British salvage vessel King Leax*, which went to the aid of the torpedo boat, had no difficulty in towing the Regina Maria from her x’efuge in Caliacro Bay, though snowstorms and heavy seas continued. There were 18 degrees of frost. All ships in the storm area were coated with frozen spray. Prince Michael later left for Athens. Bucharest newspapers have been forbidden to refer to his experiences. Bride Also Held Up. The Royal wedding to which the Crown Prince Michael was travelling,and which the Duke and Duchess of Kent will attend, will occur at Athens on January 9 between the Crown Prince Paul and Princess Frederika, of Hanover, who herself was held up yesterday by heavy snow in northern Macedonia. Her train was delayed for four hours.

A message from Constanza says Prince Michael arrived there and boarded the waiting train for Bucharest.